Container Shipping to Italy — Get Instant Quotes
Why Choose iContainers for Shipping to Italy?
- Major European gateway. Italy handled 12 million TEU in 2024, led by Gioia Tauro (3.94 million TEU, +11 % YoY), Genoa’s Western Ligurian ports, and Trieste’s Adriatic hub. portseurope.comportseurope.com, portsofgenoa.com, portseurope.com
- Strategic free-flow corridors. Fast rail links move containers from Ligurian and Adriatic ports straight into Central Europe via the Brenner and Gotthard corridors.
- Sector depth. Italy is a top importer of cars, crude oil, electronics, and pharmaceuticals, creating steady inbound volumes year-round. pangea-network.com, worldstopexports.com
- Customs clarity. Your dedicated iContainers manager guides you through the AIDA e-manifest system, VAT-deferred procedures, and food-and-wine certifications unique to Italian border checks.
Our Container Shipping Services to Italy
Full-Container-Load (FCL) Shipping
High-volume shippers of machinery, fashion retail stock, and automotive parts typically select sealed 20 ft or 40 ft containers for security and predictable landed costs. Example port-to-port transits: New York → Genoa = ≈ 13 days; Shenzhen → Genoa ≈ 25 days.
Less-than-Container-Load (LCL) Shipping
Italian SMEs often import smaller lots of luxury goods, coffee equipment, and specialty foods via LCL consolidation hubs like Valencia, Barcelona, and Piraeus, arriving in Genoa or Gioia Tauro in 15–25 days door-to-door.
Alternative: Air Freight to Italy
Need 3–5-day delivery? Book air freight into Milan Malpensa (MXP)—Italy’s busiest cargo airport with double-digit growth in 2024—or Rome Fiumicino (FCO), handling 258 000 t of freight last year. (milanomalpensacargo.com) Perfect for rapid replenishment of high-value fashion, urgent machine spares, or pharmaceutical samples.
Container shipping rates to Italy
How much does it cost to ship a container to Italy?
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Container to Italy?
- Ocean (FCL/LCL): 10 – 45 days depending on origin, routing, and Mediterranean trans-shipment. A trans-Atlantic loop from the U.S. East Coast can be under two weeks, while Far-East sailings may stretch to 30–45 days when loading in Northern China.
- Air Freight: 1 – 6 days airport-to-airport, plus final clearance.
Popular Routes and Ports for Shipping to Italy
| Origin Ports | Italian Port/Airport | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New York / Savannah / Houston | Port of Genoa (IT GOA) | Western Ligurian gateway for North-South Europe trade. portsofgenoa.com |
| Valencia / Barcelona | Gioia Tauro (IT GIT) | Mediterranean mega-hub; 3.94 M TEU in 2024. portseurope.com |
| Shanghai / Shenzhen | Trieste (IT TRS) | Adriatic rail corridor to Central Europe; ~0.73 M TEU. portseurope.com |
| — | Milan Malpensa (MXP) | Italy’s top air-cargo hub, +11.8 % YoY. milanomalpensacargo.com |
| — | Rome Fiumicino (FCO) | 258 k t freight in 2024; pharma & express focus.wikipedia.org |
Five Easy Steps to Book with iContainers
- Get an instant quote online for FCL, LCL, or air freight.
- Select service level — port-to-port, door pickup, insurance.
- Upload documents (invoice, packing list, certificate of origin).
- Track your shipment 24/7 via your dashboard.
- Clear & receive in Italy with on-the-ground support for customs and final-mile delivery to any EU address.
What Can You Ship in a Container to Italy?
Common Commodities
- Electrical machinery, appliances, and components (pangea-network.com)
- Fashion apparel, textiles, leather goods
- Automotive parts and high-end vehicles
- Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, specialty chemicals
- Processed foods, wine, and coffee equipment
Restricted or Special-Permit Goods
- Cultural artifacts and artworks (export ministry approval)
- Meat, dairy, and fresh produce without EU health certificates
- Counterfeit or trademark-infringing items
- Firearms, ammunition, and dual-use chemicals
FAQs About Shipping Containers to Italy
At minimum: commercial invoice, packing list, and EU customs declaration. Food, wine, and pharma require additional health certificates or import licences.
Not by law, but iContainers strongly recommends marine cargo insurance to cover potential Mediterranean weather delays and port strikes.
Yes—once goods clear EU customs in Italy, they move freely across member states under the Union Customs Code.